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National Endometriosis
Awareness Month
Peripheral Arterial Disease
July 28th, 2008
Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is a progressive circulatory
condition in which the arteries that supply blood to the legs become
blocked by plaque (fatty deposits), causing poor circulation and
intermittent claudication (leg pain while walking). While only 50% of
people with PAD have blockages severe enough to experience pain,
complications can lead to gangrene, limb amputation, heart attack and
stroke.
Symptoms
Many people with PAD have mild or no symptoms, but the first
noticeable sign for most is intermittent claudication (IC).
Characterized by muscle pain or cramping in the legs, IC is triggered
by activities such as walking, but goes away after a few minutes of
rest. However, not everyone experiences pain; some might feel a
numbness, weakness or heaviness in the muscles. IC can range from mild
discomfort to debilitating pain, and the location of the pain depends
on the location of the blocked artery. As the disease progresses, IC
may be experienced at shorter walking distances.
Other symptoms of PAD include the following:
- Numbness of the legs or feet at rest
- Cold legs or feet, especially compared to the other leg
- Hair loss on the lower extremities, especially the toes
- Changes in toenail growth
- Change of color of the legs or feet
- Paleness or blueness (cyanosis) of the legs or feet
- Weak or absent pulse in the extremity
- Ulcers or sores on the legs or feet that don't heal
- Walking abnormalities
Depending on the severity of the blockage, a person may experience
pain while at rest or lying down (ischemic rest pain). In some cases it
may be intense enough to wake a person during sleep, but walking around
can help to temporarily relieve the pain.
Causes and Risk Factors
The most common cause of PAD is atherosclerosis or "hardening of the
arteries," which occurs when plaque builds up in the arteries and
reduces blood flow to the legs. Other causes, though less common,
include blood clots in the arteries, limb injury, unusual anatomy of
the ligaments or muscles and infection. Age also plays a role in the
development of the disease, especially in people 50 and older.
Other risk factors include:
- Smoking
- Diabetes
- Family history of PAD, heart disease or stroke
- High cholesterol or triglycerides
- High blood pressure
- High levels of homocysteine, a protein component that helps build and maintain tissue
- Obesity (a body mass index over 30)
- Excess levels of C-reactive protein, a general marker of inflammation
- Men have a greater risk of developing PAD than women
Smokers and people with diabetes have the greatest risk of
complications. For smokers, quitting is the single most important step
an individual can take to help stop the progression of PAD and reduce
the risk of a heart attack or stroke.
Treatment Options
The two main goals of treatment are to manage symptoms, such as leg
pain, and to stop the progression of atherosclerosis throughout the
body. PAD can often be successfully treated by quitting smoking,
exercising and eating a healthy diet. Doctors may also prescribe
medicine to prevent blood clots, lower blood pressure and cholesterol,
and control pain and other symptoms. For patients experiencing IC,
angioplasty, bypass surgery or thrombolytic therapy may be necessary to
treat the symptoms of PAD.
In extreme cases, especially if the leg has gangrene, doctors may
recommend amputating the lower leg or foot. However, more than 90% of
patients with gangrene who are seen by vascular specialists can avoid
amputation or have it limited to a small portion of the foot or toes.
Staying Healthy
Lifestyle changes that can help manage PAD include:
- Managing diabetes by maintaining healthy blood sugar levels
- Lowering high cholesterol
- Lowering high blood pressure
- Quitting smoking
- Eating foods low in saturated fats and calories
- Maintaining your ideal body weight
- Exercising and walking regularly (at least 30 minutes 3 times a week)